USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holyoke > Holyoke to-day : penned and pictured 1887 > Part 4
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In 1874 the Unquomonk silk mill, which was established in Haydenville, in this State, in 1839, and which lost its property by the breaking away of a dam in 1874, moved to this city. It manufactures satin sleeve linings, silk serges, silk and mohair braids, machine and button-hole twist, sewings, organzine and cassimere sewings. Over 3,000 pounds are made every month. About 300 hands are employed at $5,000 per month. William Skinner & Sons are the proprietors.
The National Blank Book Company was organized in New York in 1875 as the J. G. Shaw Company, and was changed in 1880 to its present name, the manufactory being removed to Holyoke in the summer of 1881. It occupies two floors in the Water Power Company's Cabot street building, each 320x75 feet, making one of the most convenient and commodious blank book manufactories in the country. Blank books of every description are made by this company, and its business is far reaching. Employ 175 hands who receive $6,000 per month. Thomas A. Mole, President, Roswell M. Fairfield, treasurer, H. S. Dewey, Agent.
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The works of the Deane Steam Pump Company were moved from Springfield in 1875 to the shops of the Holyoke Machine Company, where business increased so rapidly that it outgrew the accommodations and had to be put in new quarters. In 1879 the present company was incorporated and began business here in new shops. The capital stock is $200,000. It is a prominent feature of this company to build pumps to order for difficult and special duties,-for use, for instance, on the Mississippi river banks, for mining and deep well purposes, for artesian wells, and for town and city water works. Employs 235 hands. Monthly pay roll, $6,000. Stephen Holman, president, Charles P. Deane, treasurer.
The Newton Paper Company which had been a co partnership since 1873, was organized in 1876 as a corporation with a capital of $24,000. The business of the company has doubled since that time and the daily product is now fourteen tons of roofing, building, carpet lining and heavy wrapping papers. Fifty hands are employed and its pay roll is $2,500 per month. Moses Newton, president, James Ramage, vice president, George A. Clark, treasurer.
A remarkably successful enterprise has been the Henry Seymour Cutlery Company, which was organized in 1839 in New York, but came to Holyoke in 1878. Capital stock $25,000. The wisdom of the move is apparent when it is known that the business of the company has doubled since it came here. Its trade is now almost world wide, and goods are sent to Russia, Ireland,
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Germany, Australia, Sandwich Islands, South America, Africa, etc. One hundred and fifty different kinds and sizes of scissors and shears are made,-2,400 to 2,600 dozen monthly, the smallest being 4-inch pocket scissors and the largest 16-inch tailors shears. Seventy-five men are employed. A recent specialty is the manufacture of sheep shears, this company being the only one in the United States that makes them. The supply has previously come from England, but it is gratifying to learn that the Seymours are now making sheep shears that are superior to the English shears and which can be also sold cheaper by 10 per cent. Henry Seymour, pres., R. H. Seymour, treas.
The manufacture of wire cloths for Fourdrinier paper machines and dandy rolls, duster and cylinder wires, was begun in 1878 by Buchanan, Bolt & Co., who have made the business a success. . In 1878 were completed two of the finest buildings in the city, the Windsor Hotel and the Opera House, both owned by Hon. William Whiting. The Windsor is an elegant hotel and first- class in every respect, and the Opera House has no superior in the western part of the State.
In the next year the Wauregan Paper Company was established with a capital stock of $100,000, and began with a daily product of four tons of paper. Five tons are now made, the paper being fine book and engine-sized writing. Three thousand dollars are paid to 110 hands every month. J. H. Newton, president and treasurer, E. T. Newton, secretary, T. H. Spencer, Office Manager. The year 1880 gave a wonderful stimulus to the paper-making industry in Holyoke, for seven
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new paper companies were organized. The Chemical Paper Company came out first, and had a capital stock of $80,000, which the pressure of business soon made it necessary to increase to $250,000. Sixteen mill powers are used and the present daily product of the mills is twenty-two tons of paper. Some days the product goes up to twenty-six tons. The monthly pay roll is $8,000, and the number of hands 200. This company has a pulp mill connected with the other mills, which makes seven tons of pulp per day. The papers made are as follows : manilas, rope, print, tag and box papers, card middle, and envelope papers. James Ramage, president, J. C. Newton, vice president, George C. Gill, secretary, Moses Newton, treasurer, and agent.
The Winona Paper Company, organized in the same year, and started with a capital stock of $60,000, which in July, 1882, was raised to $150,000, because of a great expansion of business. Five tons of paper were made at first, but, with the increase of capital came greater facilities for doing the expanding business, and twelve tons is the daily product now. The papers made are flat and ruled writings. Employs 135 hands. R. M. Pulsifer, president, (Boston), B. F. Hosford, treasurer.
The Syms & Dudley Paper Company, another of the 1880 companies, makes book and engine- sized flats, producing thirteen tons per day. The capital stock is $150,000, employs 150 hands who receive $4,500 monthly. Wm. Whiting, pres., Geo. R. Dudley, treas., Wm. E. Syms manager of mill. The Nonotuck Paper Company, same year, made five tons of paper per day, but in six months
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was turning out ten tons. Its capital has remained the same, $70,000. Employs 200 hands, and pays $5,000 per month in wages. The goods made are engine-sized writing and envelope papers, colored flats, mediums and book papers. Aaron Bagg, Jr., president, J. S. McElwain, agent, Wm. H. Heywood, treasurer, Henry E. McElwain, secretary.
The Dickinson & Clark Paper Company of 1880, makes book paper and super calendered and engine-sized flats, producing in one day four tons. Two and one-half tons were made at first. The fifty-five hands employed receive $1,600 per month. Geo. R. Dickinson and J. E. Clark, owners. The Holyoke Envelope Company of 1880, also, is one of the prominent envelope manufacturing companies of the country. It employs 210 persons and pays over $6,000 per month. James T. Abbe, president, George N. Tyner, treasurer.
The Hampden Glazed Paper and Card Company followed in 1881, making glazed paper and card board, capital stock $56,000 .. G. F. Fowler, president, F. H. Fowler, secretary and treasurer.
The Whitmore Manufacturing Company was established in 1881 with a capital stock of $25,000. It manufactures card board, glazed and lithograph papers, doing work that is not excelled any where in the country. Employs 42 hands and its pay roll is $2,200 per month. William Whiting, president, F. D. Heywood, treasurer.
Messrs. Chadwick & Chadwick, an English firm, established themselves late in the year 1882 in
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SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
the west wing of the Water Power Company's building, on Cabot street, occupying two entire floors and basement, and manufacture a fabric in imitation of seal-skins. Employs 70 hands at a monthly pay roll of $2,800.
The Merrick Lumber Company, capital stock $75,000, lumber merchants, contractors and builders, have a steam planing and saw mill, and manufacture doors, sash and blinds. They employ 60 men and pay $3,000 per month in wages. T. Merrick, president, E. Bradley, treasurer. E. Chase & Sons, established in 1859, and Watson Ely & Son, are two other firms of lumber dealers.
Many miscellaneous firms have sprung up for doing various kinds of business. The Tuttle Rubber Works, J. H. Tuttle proprietor, manufactures Jenkins & Frink's pump valves, washers, packing, rubber balls, wagon springs, shaft rubbers, etc. Fenton & Dunn make all kinds of carriages and wagons. J. & W. Jolly, machinists and blacksmiths, do a general jobbing, paper mill repairs being a specialty. John C. Smith, machinist, has the same line of business, as also, has the Perkins machine shop. The Holyoke Woven Wire Mattress Company makes wire mattresses, as its name indicates. Graves & Kinney are brass founders and make brass furnishings, street . numbers, croquet hoops, harness castings, etc. Lithographing and engraving is done by Henry Thomas. B. F. Nichols top roll coverer and manufacturer of leather belting. D. Mackintosh & Son are dyers and dealers in colored cotton. The Coghlan Steam Boiler Works make heavy rotary bleachers and
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chemical wood-pulp digesters for paper mills, and also light and heavy plate iron work for mills and factories. A few years ago the United States postal cards were made in Holyoke, but the business has subsequently gone to Castleton, N. Y. Brick making has been a profitable and extensive industry in the city for years, the great number of new buildings making the demand for them strong.
The latest paper mill is that of the George R. Dickinson Paper Company. The capital stock of this company is $150,000. Mr. George R. Dickinson, the principal owner, is as thoroughly interested in the making of paper as any man in the world, being a large owner of the property of the Dickinson & Clark, the Syms & Dudley and the Excelsior Paper companies. This mill is of the largest size and contains in its walls 4,000,000 bricks. One hundred and fifty hands are employed, and its pay roll is $5,000 per month. Super-calendered book and engine-sized writing and envelope papers are made, and ten tons is the daily product.
An account of Holyoke's industries would hardly be complete without including a few at least, of the professional and mercantile concerns established here :
E. H. Allyn & Co., clothiers and furnishers, No. 253 High street, opposite City Hall. This elegantly appointed store is one of the most notably attractive establishments in the city. It has a frontage of 25 feet and a depth 100 feet; and it is handsomely fitted up in cherry fixtures, and
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splendidly lighted by two fine show windows.
The stock carried includes a large assortment of fashionable ready-made clothing of the finest material and best workmanship for men, youth, boys and children ; hats and caps in the prevailing fashion ; the latest designs in shirts, underwear, gloves, hosiery, and neckwear, and novelties of all kinds in gentlemen's furnishing goods. The business, which has attained important proportions, was established by the present proprietor, Mr. E. H. Allyn, in September, 1884, and he has built up a first-class trade and an enviable reputation. The transactions of this house are characterized by liberality and fair dealing, which have resulted in securing for them a trade of creditable proportions, an excellent reputation and a list of patrons that is constantly increasing.
Dean & Wheelock, wholesale and retail dealers in paper hangings, paints, oils, glass, etc., 147 Main street. This well known house has for over thirteen years been one of the leading establish- ments of the city. The store is a model of taste in its arrangement, and the stock is always standard and select, comprising everything late and desirable in paper-hangings, window-shades at wholesale and retail, etc., also a full assortment of superior paints, oils, glass, etc. A specialty is made of decorations and frescoing, in which the firm have made a widespread reputation, by reason of the finished, artistic manner in which all work is performed by them. The most marvelous effects in shades and combinations of colors, the most pleasing effects and harmonious blendings, and
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the boldest, most unique designs are carried out in a faultless manner. The firm give employment to a force of about thirty-five hands and are prepared to execute all work in their line at short notice and in the most satisfactory manner. Messrs. W. T. Dean and W. F. Wheelock, the members of the firm, are both practically acquainted with every detail of their business. Mr. Dean is a native of New York State, while Mr. Wheelock was born in Massachusetts.
H. E. Gaylord, wood and coal, wood sawed and split to order. For ten years, Mr. H. E. Gaylord has been conducting an extensive business as a general dealer in wood and coal. His office and yard cover a space of 150x50 feet. The yard is in connection with the Holyoke and Westfield railroad by a switch track and has every facility for shipment of orders. About seven hands are employed by Mr. Gaylord, and a large trade is done in supplying residents of Holyoke
and South Hadley Falls with coal and wood. Franklin coal from Lykens valley and all kinds of Mr. Gaylord is a native of South Hadley, and now coal are furnished in any desired quantity.
resides at South Hadley Falls. He is an enterprising merchant, fully alive to the wants of the public, and knowing how to meet the demands of the trade. He is recognized as a representative merchant and valuable citizen and a gentleman of high standing. Office end of County bridge. A popular and well-known house is that of C. B. Goldsmith, photographer, on Railroad street, near corner of Dwight, and nearly opposite Windsor Hotel. Mr. Goldsmith has the finest studio in
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the city with unsurpassed facilities for producing first-class work. The building was erected for the purpose, is handsome and attractive in exterior and interior, metropolitan in all its accessories and appointments, with splendid light, etc. The processes being such as have been approved and adopted by leading photographers throughout the country. Mr. Goldsmith devotes his attention to every branch of the art, photographs of every description being produced. The prices are fully as low as can be obtained in any first-class establishment, while the reliability of the concern furnishes a strong reason why it should be warmly supported.
In all the principal lines of trade and industry which make up the bulk of Holyoke's material wealth and constitutes the foundation of her prosperity and progress, there are houses that stand prominently forward as leaders in their respective fields of energy. In the coal and wood trade of this city that position is unanimously assigned to the Holyoke Coal and Wood Co., and a brief sketch of its career and resources will suffice to show that it fully merits the distinction. Sept. 3, 1885, Mr. Gridley of the firm of Gridley & Moriarty, coal and wood dealers, sold his interest in the business to Mr. F. A. Whiting. Mr. P. J. Moriarty retained his interest in the business with Mr. Whiting, and together they purchased the office and business of the Holyoke Coal Co., and changed the concern to a stock company with a capital of $6,000. Their yard, 74 Crescent street has a storage capacity of twenty-five hundred tons and is the best arranged and most
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The constantly increasing trade
complete in all of its appointments of any coal yard in the city. of this company is due in large measure doubtless to the fact that Messrs. Whiting and Moriarty give their personal attention to the business and buy nothing but first class goods. They claim to deliver them as a rule in better condition than do any other of their competitors. The office is centrally located at 82 Main street, is on the line of the horse railway and has telephone connections. You can depend upon the company for coal and wood of a superior quality and to have it delivered in the best possible condition.
M. A. Marks, merchant tailor, number 81 Main street, is one of the most accomplished tailors in Holyoke. He is a popular caterer to the finest class of custom and enjoys an enviable patronage. The business was established in 1877, and from its inception to the present it has been attended by the most marked success. His store has a frontage of 25x50 feet. At the rear of this is a workshop 25x20 feet in dimensions. The store is very elaborate in its fittings and furnishings, and a full stock of the choicest cloths of both foreign and domestic manufacture is displayed in great variety. The importations are made direct, thus enabling the proprietor to give the public the full benefit of his facilities. Ten trained artisans are employed. Mr. Marks is a practical cutter of extended experience, and in cut, finish and general excellence the reputation of the house is a credit to its proprietor. Mr. Marks is a native of New York city.
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Phelps & Tower, housefurnishing goods, ranges, furnaces, tinning and plumbing, 18 Main street. This well established enterprise has been in successful operation here for twenty-two years. The house was founded in 1865 by C. H. & H. R. Tower, who conducted it until 1879, when C. H. Tower associated with himself G. A. Phelps and organized the firm of Phelps & Tower ; throughout its career it has always had the confidence and received the support of the public. Three floors and a basement are occupied, and the premises are fitted up in the most convenient manner for the exhibition and storage of goods. None but the best known and most meritorious productions are carried. The assortments are always complete and customers are sure of obtaining what they wish in its most attractive and acceptable form. Special attention is given to tin, copper and sheet iron. They are also large workers in mill copper work, ventilators and mill works of all kinds. Only the most expert workmen are employed, of whom from ten to fifteen are kept constantly busy. Plumbing in all its branches is carefully done, sanitary requirements being respected and followed. Messrs. Phelps & Tower are both widely known and recognized as men of energy and ability, prosecuting their affairs in a trustworthy and honorable way.
A. Judson Rand, Dealer in Watches, Diamonds, Jewelry, etc., No. 9 Dwight street, who is a native of Holyoke, and has had seventeen years' practical experience in his line of trade founded his enterprise in 1879, and he has since built up a very extensive and substantial business. His store,
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which has a frontage of 25 feet on Dwight street and a depth of 40 feet on Main street, is neat, well appointed and attractive, and is stocked with a handsome and valuable assortment of diamonds and other precious stones, a fine array of foreign and domestic manufactured gold and silver watches, rich, solid gold jewelry in all the latest designs, marble and other clocks, silverware of every description, etc. Mr. Rand carries one of the largest and finest stocks in his line in the city, and offers special bargains to his patrons. Competent and skilled workmen are employed, and a specialty of the business is the repair of watches and jewelry. Throughout his business career Mr. Rand has ever enjoyed the reputation of being an enterprising and reliable tradesman.
The well-known and popular dentist rooms of H. A. Smith, located at No. 235 High st., were founded fifteen years ago. Mr. Smith is a native of Massachusetts, and attends to all departments of dental art, and makes a specialty of filling teeth. Teeth are painlessly extracted, and artificial teeth, arranged on a new principle, are furnished at reasonable rates and warranted to give satisfaction. Gold crowns are fitted on to broken down teeth and roots, and full sets and part sets of teeth are made without plates and fastened in the mouth as firmly as the natural teeth. This bridge work is especially valuable in replacing one or two teeth. Prompt and courteous attention is given to all patrons. This firm takes a leading position in the profession, and has a large clientele. Messrs. Tremblay & Codaire, dealers in dry goods, notions and millinery, are prominent and
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WESTERLY FROM PROSPECT PARK.
representative business men of this city, and since they established their house here in March, 1883, have built up a large and influential line of custom that is steadily and continually increasing in volume. This firm have their headquarters at Nos. 345 and 347 Main st., where they occupy a handsome store fronting for thirty feet on the street and running back a depth of one hundred
feet. The store is handsomely furnished throughout and is elegant in all its appointments. The stock carried is the chief feature; there is a complete assortment of fine dry goods, notions, milli- nery, and ladies' and gentlemen's furnishing goods. The goods have all been carefully selected direct from the best and most fashionable sources of supply, and which commend their own merits to the most fastidious customer, on inspection, while the prices asked are astonishingly low. The house has a wide trade, covering all parts within a radius of fifteen miles of the city. The members of the firm are Messrs. Joseph Tremblay, Jr., and Napoleon Codaire, both natives of Canada. These gentlemen are enterprising business men and popular merchants, and with their eight competent assistants are kept continually busy in attending to their numerous customers, who find the house one with whom it is pleasant to have business relations.
Prominent among the architects of Holyoke is Geo. P. B. Alderman, office 271 High street, Preston's Block. Mr. Alderman is a native of East Granby, Conn., is a graduate from the carpenters' bench, and has been a resident of Holyoke for the last nine years, during which time he has been
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engaged in the study of architecture both theoretically and practically. He established himself in business here in 1885 and has already gained the confidence and esteem of the public, as the important and valuable work intrusted to him proves. It has been and is Mr. Alderman's aim to unite beauty and strength in all buildings, to secure good ventilation and above all good sanitary
plumbing. Among the structures that have been designed and superintended by him may be men-
tioned : The brown stone front business block of J. S. Preston, High street, Guyott's Hotel, cor. High and Division sts., W. A. Allyn's residence, cor. Linden and Hampshire sts., Z. C. Warren's residence and stable, Northampton st., Rufus B. Holmes' residence, cor. Fairfield ave. and Pearl st., the residence and stable of F. A. Flinn at Lee, Mass., Seth H. Butler's residence at Middletown, Conn.
and a great many others. Prominent among those now in course of erection are "Browning Hall," cor. Appleton and High sts., owned by J. S. Comins, the J. K. Morrill "Flats " cor. Appleton and Chestnut sts., residence of Charles Blodgett, M. D., Maple st., First Congregational Church, cor. Hampden and Pleasant sts., residences of Howard A. Crafts, Northampton st. and C. H. Flanders, Walnut st., and business blocks on High street for Fred. Batchelor, F. L. Taber, Louis J. Rigali, A. F. Gingras, John McDonald, and W. W. Tice, all of Holyoke. Also school-house at Willimansett, and residence for Leander Sibley, Spencer Mass. Mr. Alderman makes plans and specifications and gives estimates for work of any magnitude and is reasonable in his charges.
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STATISTICAL.
Following is a table showing the population of the city, male and female, by wards, according to the state census of 1885. Since this was made up the truant officers have twice taken the census, their last figures showing that the present population is exactly 32,100, a very gratifying gain in two years :
PERCENTAGES.
MALES.
FEMALES.
POPULATION.
MALE.
FEMALE.
Ward I, 1,767
1,995
3,762
46.97
53,03
2, 2,142
2,278
4,402
48.46
51.54
3,
1,894
1,820
3,714
51.00
49.00
4,
1,953
2,368
4,321
45.20
54.80
5,
1,469
1,753
3,222
45.59
54.41
6,
2,867
3,289
6,156
46.57
53.43
7,
1,126
1,174
2,300
48.96
51.04
Total,
13,218
14,677
27,895
47.38
52.62
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There were in the city 14,003 native population, 6,782 males and 7,221 females ; 13,380 foreign residents, 6,427 males and 7,453 females. The number of colored persons was four, one male and three females. The conjugal relations show that of the 6,783 native born males, 5,228 were single, 1,463 married, 85 were widowers and 7 divorced. Of the 6,435 foreign born, 2,965 were single, 3,224 married, 239 were widowers and 7 were divorced. In regard to the females, the native born were divided thus : single, 10,603 ; married, 3,052; widows, 328; divorced, 24; of the foreign born, 9,405 were single; 6,412 married; 1,060 widows; II divorced. Thus it will be seen that the pro-
The ages by periods of portion of married persons is much larger among the foreign residents. years, are as follows : Under one year, 682, males 329, females 353 ; from one to four, 2,513, males 1,255, females 1,258; from five to nine, 2,899, males 1,431, females 1,468; from 10 to 13, 2,232, males 1,122, females 1,110; from 14 to 19, 3,869, males 1,792, females 2,077 ; from 20 to 29, 6,659, males 2,989, females 3,670 ; from 30 to 39, 3,794, males 1,885, females, 1,939; from 40 to 49, 2,707, males 1,278, females 1,429 ; from 50 to 59, 1,541, males 734, females 807 ; from 60 to 69, 697, males 303, females 394 ; from 70 to 79, 237, males 99, females 138; 80 and over, 65, males 31, females 35.
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